Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 1 eBook

with due rites. And obtaining her as wife, Agastya
addressed Lopamudra, saying, “Cast thou away
these costly robes and ornaments.” And
at these words of her lord, that large-eyed damsel
of thighs tapering as the stem of the plantain tree
cast away her handsome and costly robes of fine texture.
And casting them away she dressed herself in rags
and barks and deerskins, and became her husband’s
equal in vows and acts. And proceeding then to
Gangadwara that illustrious and best of Rishis began
to practise the severest penances along with his helpful
wife. And Lopamudra herself, well pleased, began
to serve her lord from the deep respect that she bore
him. And the exalted Agastya also began to manifest
great love for his wife.

“’After a considerable time, O king, the
illustrious Rishi one day beheld Lopamudra, blazing
in ascetic splendour come up after the bath in her
season. And pleased with the girl, for her services,
her purity, and self control, as also with her grace
and beauty, he summoned her for marital intercourse.
The girl, however, joining her hands, bashfully but
lovingly addressed the Rishi, saying, “The husband,
without doubt, weddeth the wife for offspring.
But it behoveth thee, O Rishi, to show that love to
me which I have for thee. And it behoveth thee,
O regenerate one, to approach me on a bed like to
that which I had in the palace of my father.
I also desire that thou shouldst be decked in garlands
of flowers and other ornaments, and that I should approach
thee adorned in those celestial ornaments that I like.
Otherwise, I cannot approach thee, dressed in these
rags dyed in red. Nor, O regenerate Rishi, it
is sinful to wear ornaments (on such an occasion).”
Hearing these words of his wife, Agastya replied,
“O blessed girl, O thou of slender waist, I
have not wealth like what thy father hath, O Lopamudra!”
She answered saying, “Thou who art endued with
wealth of asceticism, art certainly able to bring
hither within a moment, by ascetic power, everything
that exists in the world of men.” Agastya
said, “It is even so as thou hast said.
That, however, would waste my ascetic merit.
O bid me do that which may not loosen my ascetic merit.”
Lopamudra then said, “O thou endued with wealth
of asceticism, my season will not last long, I do
not desire, however, to approach thee otherwise.
Nor do I desire to diminish thy (ascetic) merit in
any way. It behoveth thee, however, to do as
I desire, without injuring thy virtue.”

“’Agastya then said, “O blessed
girl, if this be the resolve that thou hast settled
in thy heart, I will go out in quest of wealth.
Meanwhile, stay thou here as it pleaseth thee."’”

SECTION XCVIII

“Lomasa continued, ’Agastya then, O son
of the Kuru race, went to king Srutarvan who was regarded
as richer than other kings, to beg for wealth.
And that monarch, learning of the arrival of the pot-born
Rishi on the frontiers of his kingdoms, went out with
his ministers and received the holy man with respect.
And the king duly offering the Arghya in the
first instance, submissively and with joined hands
enquired then after the reason of the Rishi’s
arrival. And Agastya answered saying, “O
lord of the earth, know that I have come to thee,
desirous of wealth. Give me a portion according
to thy ability and without doing injury to others."’